Hellobee

Five years ago, the Bugaboo Chameleon strolled into my life. After the crib, it was our first major baby investment. I was a new Mom and the heavy, cumbersome stroller was the enemy. I grumbled something fierce about learning how to maneuver this thing; it was like learning to walk again. Taking on stairs, tiny prewar elevators, narrow supermarket aisles and learning which NYC subway stations had elevators gave me a lot of anxiety. I promised my husband that I just wanted the umbrella stroller and would never use the Bugaboo. Luckily for me, he made me get both.

Preparing for Baby Skateboard

Before I knew it, the Bugaboo was one of my most useful Mom purchases. My sister, a mother of three, who lives outside NY scoffed at the price and thought it was a frivolous, inexperienced Mom purchase (much like a wipe warmer…). But, in NYC we don’t have cars. The big stroller is our Urban SUV – a calorie crushing (it’s a hard workout!) schlepper, and this one has had some sweet adventures.

With Auntie O in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Last week I came to terms with the fact that these days the wild, little Sk8ters are racing off on their scooters and that the unused Bugaboo was just taking up very valuable space in our tiny apartment. So, on a day that the boys were both in school I wheeled it over to a family crisis center and parted ways. A bittersweet ending to a motherhood era.

Here are some things that I learned over the past five years with my “Urban SUV”

• To quote a friend who resisted buying a big stroller with her first two kids, only to give in on the third, “It is expensive, but worth it!”
• I found the bassinet on the Bugaboo Chameleon too long. With the second babe, I opted for the Graco car seat adapter and Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat and life was easier. If you do use the bassinet, you should be able to see your baby’s face. Seems obvious, but we went a whole week with the canopy in reverse. Yeah, we had a lot to learn.
• Use the harness straps (especially when using the Graco car seat adaption). When my babies were really little it was tempting to lay them in the stroller and rush off. But, learn from my experience, sometimes big kids tip strollers (especially if you have the wheeled board) and uneven sidewalks happen.
• Two cup holders are always, always worth it. There were many times I’d have my coffee (on that note, a spill proof coffee mug is key so that you don’t slosh) in one holder, and either Mr. Skateboard’s coffee or a sippy cup in the other. Also, I put my cup holders on the inside of my handle. When they were on the outside I kept knocking stuff off of shelves.
• Carry a shopping tote in the undercarriage for any last minute supermarket pick-ups.
• Pick a stroller with big back wheels – they are handy when going down stairs (never go backwards, always push down on handle with front wheels up, and then bump, bump, bump your way down on the big back wheels); up stairs (pull-up going backwards); and easier to get through the snow.
• If baby #2 comes into your life, you may want to add a wheeled board to the back. They even make them with seat additions now, lucky kids! If you do add one of these, you may need to retire your sandals for awhile. I’ve stubbed my toe on this thing so many times. Anyone have a better experience with the straight edge version?
• There are amazing big stroller options out there – go to a store and test drive. And go back and test drive some more. We rented the City Mini in Disney and it was a smoother ride than my Bugaboo. Initially I had stroller envy. But, after awhile I was annoyed that I couldn’t hang my diaper bag off the handle. Every model has pros and cons. Determine what you can’t live without and consider how that model can adapt with your family (for example, I know that some people put wheeled boards on City Minis, but with the angle of the handle bar, it just doesn’t look safe nor comfortable).
• Speaking of hanging diaper bags, I got the Petunia Pickle Bottom Valet Clips and they were AMAZING! I also got the Mommy Hook  for groceries. Mommy Hook didn’t work well for the diaper bag because it made it hang too low and I was constantly kicking it and it didn’t distribute the weight evenly.

If you’re a city Mom and on the fence about the value of a big stroller, don’t be. You will use it. A lot. I had mine for over five years, and two kids. Also check Craigslist or your neighborhood listserv for pre-owned options. And on that note, you may be able to sell yours in a few years. Being a parent is hard work, you might as well make your life a little easier and enjoy the ride.

Upgraded to the wheelie board! (note, cups holders on the inside)

Bugaboo Baby brunching with Auntie C